Viral Video: How TikTok has changed the Marvel Community

 

97.7 billion and counting. That is the view total for all videos on TikTok with the hashtag Marvel. Of the many social media platforms that allow users to build a fanbase and promote videos, TikTok stands alone in its ability to create excitement. 

 

In 2019, Matthew Ramos was known for his YouTube videos about Marvel. His videos are composed of theorizing content, breaking news to his subscribers, and reviewing all new Marvel projects. When he discovered TikTok, his life quite literally changed. “I knew TikTok would evolve into something so much bigger,” he adds, “so I started to share my passion for Marvel on that platform in hopes of connecting with other passionate fans.” Ramos currently has 118,000 followers on YouTube. On TikTok, he has over 2.5 million. A large reason for this growth in TikTok was the COVID-19 Pandemic. Ramos notes that because of the pandemic, a lot of fans looked to other sources for their Marvel entertainment. “The timing of TikTok’s success couldn’t have been more pivotal to Marvel fans because it became a huge source of entertainment over the pandemic,” Ramos says. “With Marvel not being able to produce content, the fans grew hungry, and TikTok became a platform for fans to satisfy their hunger.” As Ramos continues to grow his platform today, he is given opportunities to view exclusive showings of Marvel movies and shows and credits TikTok for his success.

 

Content creators like Matthew Ramos are not the only ones benefitting from the rise of TikTok. In 2020, Julian Bass posted a tiktok of him transforming into different Marvel characters. After the video went viral, he asked his followers to “retweet this enough times that Disney calls.” Companies such as Sony took notice of the video, and with a live action Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse movie in the works, Bass could get consideration for this role. Filmmaker James Gunn and even Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, also shared praise for Bass. “Hire this man, Gunn!” said actor Zach Braff on Twitter. To top it all off, Marvel Studios Co-President Louis D’Esposito reached out to Bass to let him know how incredible the video was in regards to transitions, editing, and superhero portrayal.  “This is Marvel Studios right here on the phone and I missed the first call, which is probably the worst thing you can do,” Bass said with a laugh. “But I was able to call back and, you know, just make time for that. It’s amazing.” 

Perhaps one of the best features of Marvel tiktok is the community that it builds. Fan theories, discussions, and even heated debates swirl around the app. The amount of discussion that it creates is truly remarkable. When Wandavision was released on Disney+ fans began theorizing about the show’s many mysteries, creating countless videos of themselves talking, singing and making memes about the show. “TikTok is the virtual watercooler where everyone connects to share their favorite moments, memes, and theories on what will happen next,” Lizzy Hale, TikTok’s senior manager of content, told CNN Business. “TikTok has become the dynamic version of the old school TV recap columns.” As TikTok continues to grow alongside the MCU, Marvel fans will never be left without content to explore.